Hi everyone,

My name is Viki and I have struggled all my life with difficulties that until very recently I assumed were a result of incompetence and poor character. I suffer from dyspraxia which means I can't ride a bike or play sport. Driving a car is extremely difficult, stressful, and exhausting. I have never been capable of working full time. I have ended up in many dangerous situations due to my inability to understand other people's facial expressions, motives, and body language. Social situations are indescribably difficult for me. It's no exaggeration to say that my difficulties have ruined my life and left me open to some vicious abuses from my preschool years to the present time. I almost certainly have undiagnosed PTSD. I generally put on a brave face, but now that I have reached middle age, things are getting worse, and I no longer have the mental stamina, much less the financial means, that I once had, so it's time to take some action and get some support. I now realise things aren't going to magically improve on their own.

I am raising funds to access a face to face autism assessment in Newport, which is in the western suburbs of Melbourne. Autism runs in my family and the condition is strongly genetic. The waiting time is many months, so the assessment won't take place before March, 2026.

If you've read this far along, thank you so much for taking the time do do that. I realise that times are tough, but any support at all is deeply appreciated, even if it's just a few words of encouragement or sharing the link or hitting the 'like' button.